Photographer's Note

Via dei Tribunali is one of the main streets passing through the old town of Naples. There is a lot to see there but the street is narrow and the light often scarce. Beautiful church which you see in this picture is the Basilica di San Paolo Maggiore and in the foreground is the Monumento a San Gaetano (St Cajetan).

San Paolo Maggiore is a basilica church in Naples, southern Italy, and the burial place of Gaetano Thiene, known as Saint Cajetan, founder of the Order of Clerics Regular (or Theatines). It is located on Piazza Gaetano, about 1-2 blocks north of Via dei Tribunali.
The Baroque style church is located on the site of the 1st-century temple of the Dioscuri. The church was built upon the ruins of that temple. The church occupied the area behind the temple's pronaos. The front section of the latter, including six columns and triangular tympanum, was visible until 1688, when it was destroyed by an earthquake. The current church includes two corinthian columns from the ancient edifice. They stand awkwardly in front, linked by a fragile beam projecting from the facade. The church erected here in the 8th-9th century was dedicated to St. Paul to celebrate a victory in 574 of the Duchy of Naples against pillaging Saracens.
In 1538, the building was ceded to St Cajetan (San Gaetano) and his order of Theatines. Cajetan had been in Naples for six years working on building his order. The Theatine priest and architect Francesco Grimaldi designed the adjacent house for the order. In the early 1580s, general reconstruction of the church began with the erection of the transept and the polygonal apse. This was followed by the nave built by Gian Battista Cavagni. The aisles, designed by Giovan Giacomo di Conforto date from 1625 onwards. As the building was proceeding, it was decorated and embellished, notably by Massimo Stanzione who painted the nave ceiling with a series of canvases depicting events in the life of St Paul. On the occasion of the canonization of the Order's founder, St. Cajetan, Dionisio Lazzaro, unsuccessfully connected the façade with the temple's columns with a wall, causing the building to crumble in 1688. The decoration continued in the 18th century with, among others, Domenico Antonio Vaccaro and Francesco Solimena, who re-used marble elements from the ancient edifice for the new pavement and the pilasters of the nave.
The church was severely damaged by an Allied bombing in 1943, which caused the nearly total destruction of Massimo Stanzione's frescoes.

Hello Mariusz,
Great photo of this church and statue. The lighting is superb and the façade stands out so well from the surrounding shades. The people add a lively mood too. Good sharpness and clarity throughout the photo.
Lars

Hi Mariusz,a perfect light to give importance to the church facade,an excellent POV and the usual perfect quality,not easy to find a good perspective there,i know very well the place..ehehe...have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

Hello Mariusz,
My first thought was that this photo was already taken quite late in the afternoon. Or that the buildings on the other side are very high.
The advantage of having a lot of shade is that it is probably less hot in the summer.
It is a beautiful Baroque style church that you present from a good angle and with the monument on the foreground.
This basilica clearly attracts a lot of visitors.
Best regards, Paul

Witaj Mariusz,
nice the view of this part of the Basilica church with the statue on the left to completes the scene.The blue and cloudy sky with the play of the light with the shadows enhance even more the contrast between them.

We get a very nice daily life picture with much tourists before the nice statue of San Gaetano.
Also the frontage of the building makes your picture attractive. .
Your panorama view is very wide and nice.
Wonderful composition.
Very well done, TFS.

As always, a fascinating and very informative note and a beautiful photograph to accompany it.

It is not surprising in a situation like this, in late October when the sun is low and you are surrounded by high buildings, that you are confronted with massive contrasts in lighting. Yet, despite all that, you have managed the light here superbly well for we can see full details in the very deepest shadows and also in the brightest parts of this image. And you have also managed to give us a beautiful interesting sky to top it all off!

This is a very well composed shot, the brightly lit façade of the Basilica standing out proudly in its surroundings while the monument is perfectly placed (on the "third") in the foreground. And how nice to see so many people in the foreground, many of whom actually appear to be entering this magnificent building.

Hello Mariusz,
Most probably the most photographed corner of Naples.
You have chosen a perfect pov and utilised a perfect light managment.
Many interesting and usefull notes makes your entry a perfect TE job.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

Yes, it can be a real problem photographing in narrow streets which struggle to let in enough light, especially at this time of year when the sun is quite low.
Despite the lighting problems, you have been able to capture fine details of the building which show no evidence of the trials and tribulations that it has suffered over the centuries! Though the lower portion is in shadow, it is easy to see the people, adding atmosphere to the scene.
It is a very well composed photograph, the features strongly positioned and showing a fine sense of depth.

Witaj Mariusz,
this shot is a real challenge for any photographer, because there are a high difference between the light in the upper part of the frame, and the dark shades in the lower part.
This fact makes a difficult exposure management, but I say you've reached a good result.
We can enjoy nevertheless all the elements of the composition, so much of the part illuminated like of the part in the shade. I like the atmosphere created by tourists and the quality of colors.
A good job, my friend.
Kind regards,
Josep

Hello Mariusz
Beautiful, sharp high-quality picture from Naples. Lovely composition with the church inn the sunlight and the statue and the tourist in the shadow. The blue of the sky brings a bright colour in the scene.
Excellent work
Have a good week, groet Rob

Hi Mariusz
this is certainly one of those cities where i've visited but i left far too soon. Not enough time spent to properly explore what Naples has to offer. I'd love to go back.

as you mentioned in your note, the shot has some light, some shade. good to have the light striking the top portion. i like the grand presentation with the UP pov, striking and eye catching. cheers
Craig

Hello Mariusz.
Very beautiful perspective upwards, of this beautiful baroque façade, which has a double access stairway, the sculpture in backlight increases the religious atmosphere of the corner.
A beautiful color, which enhances the image.
Magnificent management of brightness and sharpness, to enjoy with the details.
Well seen and done. I like it.
You have a good day.
Very best regards.
Luis.

Hello dear friend and have a nice time
I love photos of this kind with
monuments and old historical places
all your notes are really useful
a perfect light giving importance
to the church s facade
regards
Costantino

I've read that a lot of people don't like Naples but if you overlook the crazy traffic and temperamental people it does have a lot to offer. Luciano captured some stunning images from this city that don't usually get mentioned in tourist brochures or guide books. A good upward pov with excellent sharpness and warm cold color contrasts. Tfs!